By Kenneth Roberts,Special to the Sun Journal

TURNER – Selectmen were elated this week to learn that Engine 2 is up and running, stickered and pumping water.

The fire truck that had been out of commission for two years celebrated its new life by being a feature of the Turner Fourth of July parade.

Only two and a half weeks after being named chief, Michael Arsenault has seen to the truck getting back on the road and has increased the roster of the volunteer department to more than 40. Veterans of the department say the attitude is “great.”

Arsenault also has negotiated changes in officer positions in the department to the satisfaction of all, and has named rescue and fire veteran Ross Gagne as his assistant chief. Arsenault and Gagne, at $1,250 and $500, respectively, will be the only two paid members of the department. All others will receive unit pay for calls they answer and training they attend.

Selectmen were so pleased with the progress and changes within the department that they instructed Town Manager James Catlin to send a note to the volunteers thanking them for what they have been able to accomplish in such a short time.

Arsenault was appointed in June to replace longtime Fire Chief Steven Fish, who resigned in May after more than a year of legal haggling and official squabbling over the failure of selectmen to reappoint him in June 2005 to the post he had held for more than 10 years.

When the board finally did reappoint Fish – with conditions – relations continued to be strained.

Junkyards still hot issue

Letters telling junkyard owners to get their properties cleaned up by an Aug. 1 inspection or face legal action will go to:

• Hartford Realty at Route 4 and Snell Hill Road;

• Gregory Spear of 94 Fern St.;

• Fred and Tina Emerson;

• Guy Childs of 1867 Auburn Road;

• Rodney Harlow of 36 & 38 Trask Road;

• Wesley Walton of 2 Trask Road.; and

• Berry Quimby of 43 Mill Hill Road.

Also, Daniel Richardson, doing business as Richardson Station of Route 4, will receive a letter asking him to attend the July 17 meeting of selectmen. In the meantime, Catlin will research legal issues with regard to Richardson. He was held in contempt of court back in 1997 for operating an illegal junkyard, which has been in operation ever since, according to the board. The paperwork on Richardson’s case “fell through the cracks,” said Code Enforcement Officer Roger Williams, but selectmen want to get back on the case.

Other junkyard operators, many of whom were present at Monday’s meeting, were told and will be notified that they have made progress, but their properties will be inspected and must be cleaned up promptly.

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